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Sheffield DocFest · 2023

Sheffield DocFest 2023

International Competition

Programme

9 films · 3 reviews

Jump to a film

Bringing The Voice (Traer la voz)

Visual artist Klaudia Kemper tries to reconnect with her ageing, aphasic father, a psychoanalyst who remained in Brazil after she left for Chile when she was young.

(Country: Chile, Brazil; Year: 2023; Director: Klaudia Kemper)

World premiere

Hotel Metalurg

Survivors of the Abkhaz-Georgian war find themselves under pressure to leave the disused luxury hotel where they have lived for more than 30 years.

(Country: France, Georgia; Year: 2023; Director: George Varsimashvili, Jeanne Nouchi)

World premiere

If Only Night Wouldn't Fall (Als de nacht maar niet valt)

Review preview for If Only Night Wouldn't Fall

Deliberately resisting anything that might appear too straightforward or obvious, this somehow has the effect of making it seem peculiarly uncurious.

Sunil Chauhan · 3 out of 5
Three Western countries’ attempts to grapple with anxiety, depression and psychosis.

(Country: Netherlands, Norway, USA; Year: 2023; Director: Marc Schmidt)

Full review

World premiere

In The Rearview (Skąd dokąd)

Review preview for In The Rearview

Beyond the stories that unfold within the vehicle, the tension of these journeys, often on dirt tracks in rural areas, is brought home.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
This fly-on-the-wall film captures Ukrainians as they are forced to leave their homes and drive into the unknown.

(Country: Poland, France, Ukraine; Year: 2023; Director: Maciek Hamela)

Full review

International premiere

The Price Of Truth

How far would you go to defend the idea of a free press? Russia’s only independent newspaper and its editor fight for democracy.

(Country: UK; Year: 2023; Director: Patrick Forbes)

World premiere

Richland

Portrait of a nuclear company town that embraces its origins and divisive past, all while reflecting on its future.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Irene Lusztig)

International premiere

Stephen

Exploration of addiction and mental health as a man auditions to play himself.

(Country: UK; Year: 2023; Director: Melanie Manchot)

World premiere

Stone Town (Shi Tang Zhen)

Portrait of a town on the cusp of radical change.

(Country: China; Year: 2023; Director: Jing Guo, Dingding KE)

World premiere

Tish

Review preview for Tish

Details leap out from the photographs, not just the faces of those she captured, but the twist of cigarette smoke, metal ashtrays recalling the tang of wet ash, plasters on scrubbed knees.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
A working-class photographer captures the impact of Thatcherism on the north of England but is unable to escape the poverty and inequality she exposed.

(Year: 2023; Director: Paul Sng; Stars: Trish Murtha)

Full review

World premiere. Opening night